Putin agreed to pause attacks on Kyiv amid freezing temperatures for a week – Trump Says

US President Donald Trump has said Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week, as extreme winter conditions grip the country and strain already damaged infrastructure.

Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power facilities have disrupted electricity, heating and water supplies for millions, pushing the war-hit nation toward a deepening humanitarian crisis amid freezing temperatures.

“Because of the cold, extreme cold… I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this,” Trump said during a cabinet meeting at the White House. He described the weather as “record-setting cold,” comparing it to a current cold snap in Washington and noting that conditions in Ukraine are similarly severe.

“They’ve never experienced cold like that,” Trump said. “And I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and the various towns for a week. And he agreed to do that. It was very nice.”

There was no immediate response from the Kremlin, but Trump said he trusted Putin to honor the agreement, despite past diplomatic efforts failing to produce a breakthrough, including a summit in Alaska last August.

“I have to tell you, people said, ‘don’t waste the call. You’re not going to get that.’ And he did it,” Trump said. “We’re very happy they did it, because on top of everything else, that’s not what they need — missiles coming into their towns and cities.”

Ukraine’s state weather agency has forecast a sharp drop in temperatures to as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius in the coming days, as authorities rush to restore basic services. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of fresh Russian attacks on energy facilities, even as emergency repairs continue.

Trump also said there had been “a lot of progress” in US-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is approaching its fifth year.

Despite the reported pause agreement, Russian attacks on Thursday killed six people in central and southern Ukraine, according to regional authorities and emergency services.